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Visitors flock to Jamaica for its sandy beaches, warm tropical climate, world-class diving and verdant mountains, but part of the Caribbean island nation’s charm lies in its rich historic and cultural roots. Travelers explore fishing villages, dim dance halls rocking with live reggae music, take guided bush-medicine hiking tours and sample Jamaica’s famed jerk-chicken plates. Compare resorts to determine which is the right choice among Jamaica’s many resort options.

Items you will need

Map

List of preferred amenities

Current travel guides

Budget

Computer

Step 1

Compare Jamaica’s resorts, scattered around the island, by location preference. Even if you plan to visit several Jamaica destinations, it helps to stay nearest the location you’d most like to explore to cut down on transportation time and cost. Some visitors may want to access the grit and vitality of Kingston, busy ports of Montego Bay or natural beauty of the island’s Blue Mountains.

Step 2

Write a list of preferred amenities. Most Jamaican resort amenities include beach access, swimming pools, on-site restaurants and bars, and room service. Make a list of your preferred amenities in addition to these basic-level offerings. Some travelers may want to book daily massages at their resort’s on-site spa, while others may prefer resorts offering assistance and expertise with preparing for dive expeditions, including equipment rental, charter reservations and guided tours. Families want resorts with kid-friendly pools, children’s menus and babysitting services.

Step 3

Read current Jamaica travel guides. Travel guides, in print and online, offer basic information when you’re comparing Jamaica resorts. Read guides to eliminate resorts that don’t match your list of preferred amenities or whose hospitality style seems at odds with yours -- resorts catering to spring-break partiers won’t be a good fit for families traveling with young children, for example.

Step 4

Calculate cost. Jamaica, famous for all-inclusive resorts, offers plenty of options. Visitors who don’t plan to spend much time traveling around the island to check out other restaurants, guided tours or vacation activities save money with all-inclusive resorts. If you prefer to use accommodations as a brief landing pad between hiking trips, meals in local restaurants and forages into Jamaica’s village life, all-inclusive packages won’t be as cost-efficient.

Step 5

Visit resort websites. Take your short list of preferred resorts to a computer and spend time browsing photos, room descriptions, restaurant menus and pool hours to get a better understanding of offerings. Remembers that resort websites are advertorial; don’t trust that they’re presenting the pros and cons of staying there. But by comparing pool photos, kids’ facilities and spa menus, you’ll be able to pair aesthetic reactions with newly acquired knowledge to choose which resort works best for your trip.

Tip

Warning

Government agencies occasionally issue warnings for Jamaica-bound travelers when civil unrest or other disturbances arise. Choose resorts with adequate security, and always respect updates from resorts cautioning visitors to stay away from particular neighborhoods or public events; these are intended to keep you safe. Safeguard personal belongings, even on resort property, and avoid conspicuous displays of wealth or valuable items.

Resources

About the Author

Morgan Rush is a California journalist specializing in news, business writing, fitness and travel. He's written for numerous publications at the national, state and local level, including newspapers, magazines and websites. Rush holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego.